Medical Nutrition Therapist

 
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Professions & Occupations
 
 
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What you need to know

​​​Nebraska requires a license to provide medical nutrition therapy, which involves the assessment of patient nutritional status followed by treatment.

A patient is a person with a disease, illness, injury, or medical condition which requires nutritional interventions as an essential component of standard care of the person.

If you provide Medical Nutrition Therapy in Nebraska, services must be performed under the consultation of a physician licensed in Nebraska.

​A license is NOT required to provide general nutrition services. General nutrition services include:

  • Identifying the nutritional needs of individuals and groups in relation to normal nutritional requirements
  • Planning, implementing and evaluating nutrition education programs for individuals and groups in the selection of food to meet normal nutritional needs throughout the life cycle. 
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Applications, Requirements & Fees

  • Preliminary Application Conviction Review - If you have a criminal conviction, you may submit an application to determine if your conviction(s) would disqualify you from obtaining a license. The fee is $100 for each license type for which you are requesting a review.​​​
  • Application

Please read the application instructions carefully. They provide more information on the requirements to obtain a license.

For complete requirement details, see the regulations.

There are four different methods to obtain a license:

  1. Hold a dietitian registration with the American Dietetic Association
  2. Have a Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college/university with a major course of study in human nutrition, food and nutrition, dietetics, or an equivalent major course of study and have:
    • Passed the Registration Examination for Dietitians examination
    • Completion of a program of supervised clinical experience which includes not less than 900 hours of a planned continuous experience in human nutrition, food and nutrition, or dietetics under appropriate supervision
  3. Have a master's or doctoral degree from an accredited college or university in human nutrition, nutrition education, food and nutrition, or public health nutrition or in an equivalent major course of study. Have passed the Registration Examination for Dietitians examination.
  4. Have a master's or doctorate degree from an accredited college/university which includes a major course of study in clinical nutrition. Such course of study consists of not less than a combined 200 hours of biochemistry and physiology and not less than 75 hours in human nutrition and have passed the Registration Examination for Dietitians examination.

Fee Information

Dietitian Licensure Compact

​On 4.2.2024 Governor Pillen signed LB 1215, which enacted the Dietitian Licensure Compact law. The purpose of this Compact is to facilitate interstate Practice of Dietetics with the goal of improving public access to dietetics services.

WHEN WILL THE COMPACT BE OPERATIONAL?

This compact will be active once enacted into law by seven states. Presently there are 3 states active and one state who is pending legislation.

There is not a time frame at this time for when the compact will be active.

MORE INFORMATION: 

If you are interested in learning more about the Dietitian Licensure Compact and future activities, please click here​.

Renewal Requirements, Continuing Education & Reinstatement

To renew your license, you must earn at least 30 hours of approved continuing education within each renewal period. ​Renewal is September 1st of odd-numbered years.

Requirements:

Please see the regulations and statutes on this web page.

Continuing Education:  

Effective 9/15/2020, the board is no longer reviewing continuing education programs. The new regulations set out the criteria for continuing education programs.

​Reinstatement

To reinstate your license from either inactive or expired status: 

  • Earn the continuing education requirement (30 hours) within the prior 24 months
  • Submit a complete reinstatement application and renewal and reinstatement fees as listed on the reinstatement application. Hours taken to reinstate your license can also be used to renew your license at the end of that renewal period so you are not required to have additional hours for renewal. 
  • Reinstatement Application

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Click here for the Medical Nutrition Therapists and Ancillary Staff Brochure

Other:

Office of Behavioral Health & Consumer Services
Department of Health & Human Services/Division of Public Health/Licensure Unit
Phone Number
(402) 471-2117
 
Fax Number
(402) 742-1106
Mailing & Physical Addresses

DHHS Licensure Unit

Attn: Medical Nutrition
PO Box 94986

Lincoln NE 68509

 

Nebraska State Office Building

301 Centennial Mall South
14th & M Streets, 3rd Floor

Lincoln NE 68508

Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Closed federal holidays.